When Hermione heard that Ethan Vincent had been attacked and hospitalized, she gasped in disbelief. "Ethan only took part in the courage trial! How could he have been ambushed by some hidden evil?!" "Poor Ethan!" Professor Snape: "..." Look at the five statues sprawled on the floor and try saying that again.
Harry, Hermione, and their friends were summoned to the Headmaster's office for tea. Meanwhile, the five "Slytherin kneeling statues" were carted off to the Hospital Wing to keep "poor" Ethan company.
At that moment, Ethan lay comfortably in a hospital bed, clad in soft pajamas and tucked beneath a crisp white quilt. He was utterly still, resembling a corpse, oblivious to the chaos unfolding around him.
[You have entered a dream] [Ignite your passion to enter the Hidden Place]
In his coma, Ethan's consciousness floated in an endless black void. There was no up, down, left, or right—he couldn't even sense his own limbs. He wasn't sure if his eyes were open or closed.
Thump! Thump! His heart pounded like a war drum, not from fear of the darkness but from exhilaration. That night, he had staged a spectacle for the ages, letting every teacher and student at Hogwarts witness the awe-inspiring form of a colossal shadow serpent!
Thump! Thump! Each heartbeat surged blood through his veins, delivering oxygen and vitality, setting every cell ablaze with fervor. This passion, like a seasoned navigator at the helm, guided Ethan through the inky abyss until his feet touched solid ground.
The air was cool, alive with rustling leaves. A primal scent of damp earth and tangled greenery flooded his senses. A faint breeze grazed his eyelids, as if stirred by the wings of some soft, unseen creature.
Ethan opened his eyes. Before him stretched the dim, overgrown forest he'd ventured into a year ago.
[Congratulations!] [You have successfully traversed the dream] [And arrived at the Hidden Place - "The Woodland"] [Current identity: Mortal]
"I'm back..." Ethan murmured, his cobalt-blue eyes glinting with anticipation.
The Woodland felt untouched by human hands. Lush vegetation crowded in from every angle—branches, leaves, and shrubs pressed close, while the darkness loomed like the vast, unblinking eye of some ancient beast, concealing untold dangers.
Yet, a faint glow sparked in Ethan's hand. He glanced down to find an old-fashioned kerosene lamp, its tiny but unwavering flame casting a steady light.
[The "Lamp" is lit, you may continue to explore]
In an instant, the encroaching plants shrank back, and the oppressive darkness retreated. Guided by the lamp's soft glow, Ethan could see a path winding forward.
"This time, I'll go farther than before," he vowed, his voice brimming with certainty.
Suppressing a grin, he licked his lips and gripped the lamp tightly, stepping cautiously into the unknown. Soon, the gentle trickle of a stream reached his ears. Following the sound, he pushed aside a massive leaf the size of a car hood.
The view opened up before him.
A river—wide enough for boats—flowed serenely through the dense forest, its beginning and end swallowed by the horizon. Unlike the wild, untamed forest, this river shimmered a delicate light blue, crystal-clear and sparkling like diamonds under the moonlight. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Ethan's nose twitched. His eyes widened in surprise. A peculiar scent—nuts mingled with minerals—hit him.
"Is this... paint?" "A painted river?"
He hurried forward, knelt by the bank, and scooped up a handful of water. As it slipped through his fingers, traces of blue-green pigment and shimmering gold leaf powder clung to his skin.
[You have discovered a special location - The Painted River] [Next time, you can come directly to this place] [The Painted River connects to the real world; you can travel by boat via this river to arrive and ascend]
Ethan: "..." What's with the cryptic nonsense? Get lost, system.
He scoffed at the unhelpful prompt, but his attention snapped to a strange object nearby. A fishing rod stood upright, glowing with an ostentatious purple light.
[Congratulations!] [You have found a relic - The Iridium Fishing Rod!]
As Ethan yanked it free, a sudden impulse surged through him. Without thinking, he hoisted the garish purple rod above his head, as if posing for some absurd hero's portrait. A golden, triumphant chime seemed to ring in his ears.
Ethan: "..." What in Merlin's name? Do I need a Healer for my brain?
[Iridium Fishing Rod: Crafted from rare iridium ore, imbued with the blessing of elves] [Increases hook rate, and once a fish bites, it cannot escape] [It is a fishing rod capable of catching the Fish King] [You have received a message from the previous fishing enthusiast:] [Go fishing.] [Why, you ask? Because the sea is there.]
Ethan: (⊙_⊙) This is beyond weird.
[I have prepared a map for you, marking the location of the world's only Ramora Fish King.] [Use this fishing rod to catch it.] [Unfortunately, I... before I could catch it...]
Ethan raised an eyebrow. Was this previous owner... dead?
[My time is running out, I'll stop writing here.] [Good luck, rookie.] [I'm off to jail first.] [P.S. Friendly reminder, catching Ramora Fish is illegal~]
Jail?! So you were arrested?! Why make it sound so tragic? You're just a poacher! Ethan's fists clenched in exasperation.
[You have obtained key information: The address of the Ramora Fish King]
A mental map unfurled in his mind, a red circle marking a spot in the center of the North Sea—not too far from Britain.
"...Why am I stuck fulfilling some criminal's 'last wish' to go fishing? And what even is a Ramora Fish?"
Thankfully, the system was cooperative for once:
[Ramora Fish is a silver fish imbued with powerful magic] [It can anchor ships in the vast ocean, serving as a guardian for sailors] [Catching the Fish King will earn you the recognition of the Ramora Fish] [And you will learn the Patronus Charm]
Ethan's eyes lit up. Patronus Charm!
"Could it block a Basilisk's curse?" "No—it definitely can." "My paintings amplify spells. Alohomora became a portal, so a painting of a Patronus Charm could absolutely deflect a deadly curse!"
Perfect. His offensive arsenal was already formidable, but his defenses were lacking. He'd nearly died earning [Robust Physique Lv1].
"Heh, I'm no reckless Gryffindor, charging in with just a wand. Tools are the key!"
Ethan smirked, gripping the flamboyant Iridium Fishing Rod. "Rest easy, fishing enthusiast," he murmured. "Niohuru Ethan's taking over."
His eyes blazed with determination.
[Fishing Enthusiast: Yo, new guy!]
Ethan: "..." Why are you haunting me?!
[Forgot to mention—the Ramora Fish King is over ten meters long! You'll need to prepare massive bait.] [Don't worry, this rod can handle it. It was made for this.]
Ten meters?! That's as big as a dragon! Ethan's breath caught.
"...This really is a fantasy world."
The bait would need to be enormous too. Were there worms that size? He was stumped.
Just then, the world around him blurred, and the ground trembled.
[You are about to wake up]
"When I wake, I'll research bait options..." Ethan muttered.
As the ground shook, he closed his eyes. The last thing he saw was a swirling, radiant starry sky on the horizon.
Ethan shivered and slowly opened his eyes. Sunlight streamed through the Hospital Wing's windows, illuminating the five Slytherin kneeling statues. They looked like relics carved from ancient Egyptian stone, each occupying a bed, transforming the ward into a macabre ritual scene.
"Oh! You're awake, dear!" Madam Pomfrey bustled over.
She flinched at the sight of the statues. What a ghastly display. Composing herself, she approached Ethan, waving her wand to check his vitals.
"Excellent health," she said with a relieved sigh.
Ethan: "?" Excellent health didn't sound like a glowing review, but he knew what was coming—lectures about not staying up late painting or needing weekly check-ups.
He averted his gaze, dodging her stern look. "Where's Luna?"
"She woke earlier and went to breakfast," Madam Pomfrey replied.
Ethan nodded, his eyes drifting to the Slytherin quintet. Thanks to them, his "Lamp" had spread like wildfire...
Madam Pomfrey misunderstood his glance. "You're worried about them, aren't you? They're just in shock, muscles stiffened. Forcing movement would harm them, so we're leaving them be for now. I can't imagine what horror they saw."
Ethan, the mastermind: Heh.
"Go have breakfast, dear—everyone's in the Great Hall. Any questions about last night?"
As Ethan changed, he pondered. "Just one thing..."
He looked up, flashing a dazzling, mischievous grin. "Did I win the Halloween competition against Slytherin?"
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